183 2. 


A.  Shirley 


THE  PROSPECTS  OF  THE  HEATHEN  WITHOUT  THE  GOSPEL 


A 


SERMON, 


PREACHED  IN  PORTLAND,  ON  SABBATH  EVENING, 


FEBRUARY  26, 


BY  BENNET  TYLER,  D.  D. 

Pastor  of  the  Second  Cougrpgational  Church  in  Portland,  Me. 


PORTLAND: 

PEISTED  BY  ARTHUR  SHIBIET. 


1 832 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


Several  ministers,  in  Portland  and  the  vicinity,  have  agreed  to  sustain 
a monthly  Missionary  lecture,  to  be  preached  on  the  last  Sabbath  eve- 
ning in  ?ach  month  with  a view  to  excite  a deeper  interest  in  favor  of 
foreign  and  domestic  Missions.  The  following  discourse  was  preached 
on  one  of  these  occasions.  It  is  given  to  the  public,  at  the  earnest  re- 
quest of  many  who  heard  it ; and  with  the  hope,  that  through  the  bless- 
ing- of  God,  it  may  contribute  something,  at  least,  towards  promoting 
the  grand  enterprize  of  evangelizing  the  world. 


SER M O N . 


ROMANS  X : 13-15. 

For  whosoever  shall,  call  upon  the  name  of  the  lord,  shall  be 

SAVED.  How  THEN  SHALL  THEY  CALL  ON  HIM  IN  WHOM  THEY  HAVE 
NOT  BELIEVED;  AND  HOW  SHALL  THEY  BELIEVE  IN  HIM  OF  WHOM  THEY 
HAVE  NOT  HEARD;  AND  HOW  SHALL  THEY  HEAR  WITHOUT  A PREACHER; 
AND  HOW  SHALL  THEY  PREACH  EXCEPT  THEY  BE  SENT? 

One  principal  cause  of  the  apathy  which  extensively  pre- 
vails in  regard  to  the  Missionary  enterprise,  is  a total  misap- 
prehension of  the  character  and  condition  of  the  heathen 
world.  Many  profess  to  believe,  (and  among  them,  some  who 
bear  the  Christian  name,)  that  although  the  gospel  is  a blessing, 
it  is  by  no  means  essential  to  salvation ; and  that  the  heathen, 
although,  in  some  respects,  less  eligibly  situated  in  the  pres- 
ent life,  have,  on  the  whole,  as  fair  a prospect  of  happiness  in 
the  life  to  come,  as  those  who  are  favored  with  the  institutions 
of  Christianity.  It  is  not  surprising,  that  those  who  entertain 
these  views,  should  take  but  little  interest  in  the  cause  of  mis- 
sions. Whether  these  views  are  correct,  is  a question  of  mo- 
mentous interest.  If  they  are,  let  us  sleep  on  like  the  genera- 
tions before  us  ; and  let  the  heathen  live  and  die  in  their  blind- 
ness, ignorant  of  Christ,  and  trusting  in  their  vain  superstitions. 

But  if  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  they  are  in  a state  of 
sin  and  condemnation,  and  are  exposed  to  everlasting  perdition  ; 
let  us  awake  to  a sense  of  their  condition,  and  let  us  consider 
no  labours  and  no  sacrifices  too  great,  to  bring  them  to  a knowl- 


4 


edge  of  that  Saviour,  who  came  to  seek,  and  to  save  that  which 
was  lost. 

Without  attempting  to  decide  the  question  whether  it  is  pos- 
sible for  any  of  the  heathen  to  be  saved ; my  present  object 
will  be  to  follow  the  spirit  of  the  text,  and  enquire  how  they 
can  be  saved  without  the  gospel.  How  shall  they  call  on  him 
in  ivhom  they  have  not  believed  ; and  how  shall  they  believe  in 
him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard  ? 

In  the  verse  preceding  the  text,  the  Apostle  says,  For  there 
is  no  difference  between  the  Jew  and  the  Greek,  for  the  same 
Lord  over  all,  is  rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  him.  He  had 
before  proved  that  both  Jews  and  Gentiles  were  all  under 
sin ; — that  by  the  deeds  of  the  law  no  flesh  shall  be  justified  ; 
and  consequently,  that  the  only  way  in  which  any  one,  whether 
Jew  or  Gentile,  can  be  saved,  is  through  the  atonement  of the 
Lord  Jesus.  This  point  he  assumes  in  the  chapter  from 
which  the  text  is  taken.  He  begins  the  chapter  by  express- 
ing his  ardent  desire  for  the  salvation  of  his  brethren  the  Jews, 
who  being  ignorant  of  God’s  righteousness,  and  going  about 
to  establish  their  own  righteousness , had  not  submitted  to  the 
righteousness  of  God  which  is  by  faith.  He  then  draws  a 
contrast  between  the  righteousness  of  the  law,  and  the  right- 
eousness of  faith ; and  comes  to  the  conclusion,  that  whosoever 
believeth  on  him  (that  is,  on  Christ,)  shall  not  be  ashamed. 
For  there  is  no  difference  between  the  Jew  and  the  Greek. 
Both  stand  precisely  on  the  same  ground  in  regard  to  justifi- 
cation. Both  are  included  under  sin.  Neither  can  be  justi- 
fied on  account  of  their  own  righteousness — And  to  both  the 
same  door  of  hope  is  opened  in  the  gospel.  rJ  he  same  Lord 
over  all  is  rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  him.  For  whosoever 
shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,  shall  be  saved.  Who- 
soever— of  whatever  nation,  or  character,  in  a penitent  and 
believing  manner,  shall  come  to  Christ  for  mercy,  shall  obtain 
it.  But  how  shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom  they  have  not 
believed;  and  how  shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom  they  have. 


not  heard ; and  how  shall  they  hear  without  a preacher  ; and 
how  shall  they  preach,  except  they  be  sent  ? These  enquiries, 
demand  the  serious  attention  of  all  those  who  are  opposed  to 
sending  the  gospel  to  the  heathen. 

Hut  if  the  heathen  are  sincere,  and  live  agreeably  to  the 
light  which  they  enjoy,  will  not  a righteous  and  merciful  God, 
overlook  their  errors,  and  receive  them  to  favour  ? Undoubt- 
edly he  will.  For  if  they  live  agreeably  to  the  light  which 
they  enjoy,  they  are  not  sinners,  and  stand  in  no  need  of  par- 
don. They  will  consequently  be  justified  on  the  ground  of 
their  own  righteousness.  They  have  the  same  claim  to  the 
favor  of  God  that  the  angels  have,  or  that  Adam  would  have 
had,  if  he  had  not  apostatized.  But  the  question  arises,  do 
any  of  the  heathen  live  agreeably  to  the  light  which  they  enjoy, 
and  in  this  way,  secure  a title  to  eternal  life? 

This  will  be  our  first  enquiry.  Let  it  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  heathen  will  not  be  judged  by  the  written  law.  It  is 
contrary  to  all  our  ideas  of  justice,  to  suppose  that  a moral  be- 
ing should  be  condemned  for  not  obeying  a law,  of  which  he  is 
necessarily,  and  unavoidably  ignorant.  But  the  heathen  have 
no  knowledge  of  the  written  law,  and  no  means  of  knowing  it. 
Still,  however,  they  are  under  law,  as  the  Apostle  has  decided. 
These  having  not  the  law,  are  a law  unto  themselves,  which 
show  the  work  of  the  Jaw  written  in  their  hearts  ; their  con- 
science also  bearing  them  witness,  and  their  thoughts  the  mean- 
while, accusing  or  else  excusing  one  another . The  great  prin- 
ciples of  the  moral  law  are  exhibited  by  the  light  of  nature ; 
and  so  far  as  the  heathen  are  capable  of  discovering  their  duty 
by  the  light  of  nature,  they  are  under  obligations  to  obey.  As 
many  as  have  sinned  ivithout  Jaw,  (that  is,  without  the  written 
law,)  shall  perish  without  law.  And  as  many  as  have  sinned 
in  the  law,  (that  is,  under  the  written  law,)  shall  be  judged  by 
the  latv.  The  Apostle  you  will  perceive,  takes  it  for  granted, 
that  those  who  have  not  the  written  law,  may  sin,  and  perish. 


6 


They  are,  of  course,  under  law,  for  where  no  law  is,  there  is 
no  transgression.  Where  there  is  no  rule  of  duty  to  be  viola- 
ted, there  can  be  no  such  thing  as  sin,  or  desert  of  punishment. 
Those  w ho  are  not,  in  some  sense,  under  law,  are  not  accoun- 
table beings ; for  accountability  implies  obligation,  and  obliga- 
tion implies  duty,  and  duty  implies  a rule  of  duty.  What  then 
is  the  rule  of  duty  to  the  heathen  ? Evidently  that,  and  that 
only,  which  the  light  of  nature  discloses.  This,  so  far  as  it  is 
discoverable  at  all,  exactly  corresponds  with  the  written  law. 
It  must  be  carefully  kept  in  mind,  that  the  heathen  and  those 
who  live  under  the  light  of  revelation,  are  not  placed  under  dif- 
ferent lawrs.  The  moral  law  is  unalterably  the  same.  It  is 
more  fully  and  more  clearly  revealed  in  the  Bible,  than  by  the 
light  of  nature,  but  stijl  so  far  as  the  light  of  nature  points  out  to 
man,  his  duty  at  all,  it  is  the  very  same,  as  that  which  is  en- 
joined in  the  written  law. 

God  has  not  left  himself  without  witness  to  the  heathen. 
They  have  light  sufficient  to  enable  them  to  discover  that  there 
is  a God,  and  to  form  some  cox-rect  notions  of  his  character. 
For  the  invisible  things  of  him,  from  the  creation  of  the  world 
are  clearly  seen,  being  understood  by  the  things  that  are  made, 
even  his  eternal  power  and  Godhead.  The  heavens  declare  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  and  the  firmament  showeth  his  handy  work. 
Day  unto  day,  uttereth  speech,  and  night  unto  night  showeth 
knowledge.  There  is  no  speech  nor  language,  ivhere  their  voice 
is  not  heard.  Since,  therefore,  the  heathen  are  capable  of 
discovering,  to  some  extent,  the  character  of  God,  they  are 
capable  of  discovering,  to  some  extent,  their  duty  ; and  so  far 
as  they  are  capable  of  discovering  their  duty,  they  are  under 
obligation  ; and  so  far  as  they  fail  to  fulfil  their  obligations,  they 
are  guilty  and  justly  condemned — as  truly  so,  as  those  who 
have  the  written  law  and  have  transgressed  it.  It  is  true,  their 
guilt  is  not  so  great,  nor  their  condemnation  so  aggravated  ; be- 
cause they  have  not  sinned  against  so  great  light.  But  so  far 
as  they  fail  to  do,  what  they  know  or  might  know  to  be  their 


7 


duty,  they  are  as  really  guilty,  and  as  justly  condemned,  as 
any  sinners  on  earth. 

This  then  is  the  state  of  the  heathen.  They  are  accounta- 
ble beings.  They  are  under  law,  and  stand  precisely  on  the 
same  ground  in  regard  to  justification  with  those  who  enjoy  the 
light  of  revelation ; that  is,  they  are  both  bound  to  obey  per- 
fectly the  law  under  which  they  are  placed,  in  order  to  be  jus- 
tified on  the  ground  of  their  own  righteousness.  If  one  who  is 
favored  with  the  Bible,  should  obey  the  whole  law  and  not  of- 
fend in  one  point,  he  would  be  justified  by  his  own  works  : and 
if  a heathen  should  live  agreeably  to  the  light  which  he  enjoys, 
and  not  fail  to  perform  a single  duty  which  the  light  of  nature 
discloses,  he  would  be  justified  in  the  same  manner.  He  would 
be  as  truly  without  sin,  as  Adam  was  in  Paradise,  and  as  the 
angels  are  in  heaven.  But  if  one  who  has  the  Bible,  does  not 
continue  in  all  things  viritten  in  the  hook  of  the  law  to  do 
them , he  is  pronounced  accursed.  And  if  a heathen  does  not 
live,  in  every  respect,  agreeably  to  the  light  which  he  enjoys, 
he  is  also  accursed.  Both  are  sinners,  and  stand  condemned, 
and  cannot  be  saved  without  the  intervention  of  pardoning 
mercy. 

Now  the  question  returns,  do  any  of  the  heathen  live  agreea- 
bly to  the  light  which  they  enjoy?  If  they  do,  they  stand  in 
no  need  of  mercy,  and  cannot  be  saved  by  grace.  They  have 
a perfect  righteousness  of  their  own,  and  can  claim  eternal 
life,  as  the  reward  of  their  obedience.  But  do  the  scriptures 
teach  us  that  any  of  the  human  race  will  be  justified  on  the 
ground  of  their  own  righteousness  ? . Do  they  not,  on  the  con- 
trary, declare,  that  all  have  sinned,  and  come  short  of  the 
glory  of  God — that  there  is  not  a just  man  upon  earth,  that 
doeth  good  and  sinneth  not — that  all  flesh  have  corrupted 
their  way,  that  they  have  together  become  unprofitable : and 
that  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no  not  one  ? Has  not 
the  Apostle  declared,  that  he  had  before  proved  both  Jews 
and  Gentiles  that  they  were  all  under  sin ; and  that  by  the 


8 


deeds  of  the  law  no  flesh  living  shall  be  justified  ? If  these 
declarations  are  true,  it  is  certain  that  none  of  the  heathen 
can  be  justified  on  the  ground  of  L..eir  own  righteousness.  It 
is  equally  certain  that  none  of  them  do  live  agreeably  to  the 
light  which  they  enjoy. 

This  truth  is  also  evident,  from  the  history  of  the  heathen 
world.  The  Apostle  has  given  us  a description  of  the  heathen 
world  as  it  existed  in  his  day.  After  mentioning  that  the  in- 
visible things  of  God,  from  the  creation  of  the  world,  are 
clearly  seen,  being  understood  by  the  things  which  are  made, 
even  his  eternal  power  and  godhead ; he  adds — So  that  they 
are  without  excuse  ; — Because  that  when  they  knew  God , they 
glorified  him  not  as  God , neither  were  thankful ; but  became 
vain  in  their  imaginations , and  their  foolish  heart  was  dark- 
ened. Professing  themselves  to  be  wise,  they  became  fools , 
And  changed  the  glory  of  the  incorruptible  God,  into  an 
image  made  like  to  corruptible  man,  and  to  birds,  and  four 
footed  beasts,  and  creeping  things.  Wherefore  God  also 
gave  them  up  to  uncleanness,  through  the  lusts  of  their  own 
hearts,  to  dishonour  their  own  bodies  between  themselves — 
Who  changed  the  truth  of  God  into  a lie ; and  worshipped 
and  served  the  creature,  more  than  the  Creator,  who  is  blessed 
forever.  And  even  as  they  did  not  like  to  retain  God  in  their 
knowledge,  God  gave  them  over  to  a reprobate  mind,  to  do 
those  things  which  are  not  convenient  ; being  filled  with  all 
unrighteousness,  fornication,  wickedness,  covetousness,  mali- 
ciousness ; full  of  envy,  murder , debate,  deceit,  malignity; 
whisperers,  backbiters;  haters  of  God,  despiteful,  proud, 
boasters,  inventors  of  evil  things,  disobedient  to  parents,  with- 
out understanding,  covenant  breakers,  without  natural  affec- 
tion, implacable,  unmerciful ; who  knowing  the  judgment  of 
God  that  they  which  commit  such  things  are  rvorthy  of  death, 
not  only  do  the  same,  but  have  pleasure  in  them  that  do  them. 

Such  was  the  heathen  world  in  the  days  of  Paul,  and  such 
according  to  the  most  authentic  information,  it  is  now ; and 


9 


such  we  have  reason  to  believe  it  ever  will  be,  till  it  shall 
be  illuminated  by  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  Son  of 
God. 

Besides. — Why  should  it  be  thought  that  any  of  die  hea- 
then are  more  likely  to  live  agreeably  to  the  light  which  they 
enjoy,  than  those  who  have  die  Bible  in  their  hands,  are,  to 
live  agreeably  to  the  light  which  they  enjoy?  It  is  admitted, 
that  those  who  are  favoured  with  the  written  law,  are,  without 
a single  exception,  transgressors.  And  what  reason  is  there 
to  suppose  that  the  heathen  have  not  universally  fallen  short 
of  their  duty ; especially  when  it  is  considered,  that  they  are 
all  descended  from  the  same  progenitors,  and  possess  essen- 
tially the  same  native  character.  But  die  Apostle  has  decided 
the  point.  He  has  assured  us,  diat  all  are  concluded  under 
sin,  and  are  by  nature  children  of  wrath.  The  heathen  there- 
fore cannot  be  saved,  on  the  ground  that  they  have  lived 
agreeably  to  the  light  which  they  enjoy  ; for  none  of  them 
have  thus  lived.  Let  us  enquire 

Secondly — Whether  die  heathen  can  be  saved  on  the 
ground  of  their  sincerity.  That  they  are  sincere  in  some 
things,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt.  They  doubtless  really 
believe  it  to  be  right,  to  practice  many  of  their  superstitions. 
But  to  believe  a thing  to  be  right,  does  not  necessarily  make 
it  right ; and  if  it  did,  in  order  to  be  a ground  of  justification, 
it  must  be  universal ; that  is,  to  be  justified  on  the  ground  of 
sincerity,  a man  must  sincerely  believe,  diat  every  thing  which 
he  does  is  right.  He  must  not  knowingly  do  wrong  in  a sin- 
gle instance.  But  is  this  true  in  regard  to  any  of  the  heath- 
en ? Can  diey  sincerely  believe  it  to  be  right,  to  b e filled  with 
all  unrighteousness,  fornication,  wickedness,  covetousness,  ma- 
liciousness, to  be  full  of  envy,  murder,  debate,  deceit,  malig- 
nity, to  be  whisperers,  backbiters,  haters  of  God,  despiteful, 
proud,  boasters,  inventors  of  evil  things,  disobedient  to  par- 
ents, covenant  breakers,  without  natural  affection,  implacable, 
unmerciful ? But  such  is  their  character,  as  drawn  by  the 
2 


10 


Apostle,  and  as  verified  in  the  history  of  all  heathen  nations, 
ancient  or  modern,  civilized  or  savage. 

Suppose,  then,  that  the  heathen  are  sincere  in  the  belief  and 
practice  of  many  of  their  superstitions ; and  suppose  that  this 
sincerity  so  far  as  it  goes,  furnishes  an  ample  excuse  for  their 
errors  ; — still,  it  cannot  cancel  the  multitude  of  known  sins,  of 
which  they  are  guilty.  If  we  admit  that  they  are  not  blamea- 
ble  for  their  abominable  idolatries,  because  they  are  sincere  in 
them  ; still  it  will  appear  that  they  are  blameable  for  number- 
less other  things  in  which  they  cannot  be  sincere.  So  that  on 
this  ground  they  will  still  be  condemned. 

But  we  do  not  admit  that  their  sincerity  is  a valid  excuse  for 
their  superstitions  ; because  they  have  light  sufficient  to  teach 
them  better.  Saul  of  Tarsus  verily  thought  that  he  ought  to  do 
many  things  contrary  to  the  name  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth  ; but  his 
sincerity  furnished  him  with  no  excuse, because  he  had  the  means 
of  being  better  informed.  If  he  had  not  shut  his  eyes  to  the 
light  that  shone  around  him,  he  would  not  have  fallen  into  such 
a delusion.  So  with  tire  heathen.  It  is  not  for  the  want  of 
light,  that  they  have  fallen  into  such  gross  idolatries  and  su- 
perstitions ; but  because  they  love  darkness  rather  than  light. 
The  Apostle  has  assigned  the  true  reason.  Because  they  did 
not  like  to  retain  God  in  their  knowledge , he  gave  them  over 
to  a reprohate  mind  to  do  those  things  which  are  not  conven- 
ient. We  see  then  that  the  heathen  cannot  be  saved  either  on 
the  ground,  that  they  live  agreeably  to  the  light  which  they 
enjoy  ; or  on  the  ground  of  their  sincerity. 

We  are  brought  therefore  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  heath- 
en are  justly  condemned ; and  if  saved  at  all,  they  must  be 
saved  through  the  intervention  of  pardoning  mercy.  It  is  easy 
to  see  therefore,  that  no  injustice  will  attach  to  the  character 
of  God,  if  they  are  not  saved.  They  will  perish  as  justly  as 
those  who  reject  the  gospel.  Their  condemnation,  it  is  true, 
will  not  be  so  aggravated,  because  they  have  not  violated  so 


11 


great  obligations ; but  to  the  extent  of  their  deserts,  they  will 
suffer  as  justly  as  any  transgressors  in  the  universe. 

It  may  be  asked,  however, — Howr  can  God  justly  punish  the 
heathen,  if  they  are  never  presented  with  the  offer  ol  pardon  ? 
This  question  involves  a principle  which  tends  to  subvert  the 
whole  system  of  the  gospel.  It  supposes  that  God  cannot 
justly  punish  sinners,  till  he  has  first  offered  them  pardon.  On 
this  principle  he  cannot  justly  punish  the  apostate  angels,  for 
no  mercy  has  been  offered  to  them.  Nor  could  lie  justly  have 
punished  one  of  the  human  race,  if  he  had  not  provided  a Sa- 
viour. On  this  principle  the  gift  of  Christ  is  not  an  act  of 
grace  ; nor  is  the  offer  of  pardon  an  act  of  grace.  The  whole 
system  of  grace  is  overthrown.  But  let  us  put  this  principle 
to  the  test.  If  it  is  sound,  it  w ill  hold  good  in  all  cases. 
Suppose,  then,  that  a man  is  convicted  of  murder.  Can  he 
not  be  justly  punished,  until  he  has  had  the  offer  of  pardon  ? 
Whoever  thought  of  admitting  such  a principle  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  justice  ? But  if  the  principle  is  unsound,  die  objec- 
tion which  is  founded  on  it,  is  groundless. 

The  heathen,  it  is  true,  cannot  be  justly  punished,  for  re- 
jecting offered  mercy  ; nor  can  they  be  punished  for  disobey- 
ing the  precepts  of  the  written  law  ; any  -Tardier  than  they  are 
inculcated  by  the  light  of  nature.  But  they  can  be  justly  pun- 
ished for  all  the  sins  of  which  they  are  guilty ; and  that  diey 
are  sinners  has  been  made  already  sufficiently  apparent. 

If,  then,  any  of  the  heathen  are  saved,  it  will  not  be,  because 
God  would  be  unjust  not  to  save  them.  They  must  be  saved 
on  the  ground  of  mercy.  But  mercy  cannot  be  extended  to 
sinners  except  through  an  atonement.  Without  the  shed- 
ding of  blood,  there  is  no  remission.  And  there  is  no  oth- 
er name  given  under  heaven  among  men,  whereby  we  can  be 
sa  ved,  but  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  is  the  propitiation, 
and  the  only  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  world.  To  him 
give  all  the  prophets  ivitness,  that  through  his  name,  whosoev- 
er believeth  in  him  shall  receive  remission  of  sins. 


12 


But  how  shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom  they 
have  not  heard  ? It  is  impossible  for  them  to  exercise  faith 
in  a Saviour  of  whom  they  have  no  knowledge.  And  how 

SHALL  THEY  HEAR  WITHOUT  A PREACHER?  Tile  neWS  of  a 

Saviour  must  be  published.  And  how  shall  they  preach 
except  they  be  sent  ? With  these  interrogations  of  the 
Apostle  before  us,  what  opinion  must  we  form,  in  regard  to  the 
prospects  of  the  heathen  ? 

I will  not  undertake  to  decide  that  none  of  them  are  saved. 
I know  that  God  is  able  to  change  the  heart  of  a heathen,  and  to 
•communicate  to  him  all  that  light  in  regard  to  the  way  of  par- 
don, which  is  essential  to  salvation.  I cannot  say  but  there  are 
such  instances.  But  to  suppose  that  this  is  a general  fact,  or 
a fact  which  exists  to  any  considerable  extent,  is  inconsistent 
with  the  tenor  of  the  Bible,  and  with  the  whole  history  of  the 
heathen  world.  “ The  kingdom  of  God,  is  a kingdom  of 
means and  the  gospel  is  ordained  as  the  grand  means  of 
bringing  sinners  to  repentance,  and  preparing  them  for  heaven. 
After  that  the  world,  by  wisdom,  knew  not  God,  it  pleased 
God  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching,  to  save  them  that  believe. 
God  might,  if  it  were  his  pleasure,  sanctify  and  save  all  his  peo- 
ple, without  the  instrumentality  of  any  means.  And  lie 
might  also,  if  he  pleased,  give  us  food  and  raiment  without  the 
use  of  our  labour.  But  such  is  not  the  plan,  which  his  wisdom 
has  devised.  He  might  have  changed  the  heart  of  Henry 
Obookiah  in  Hawaii,  and  made  to  him  a special  revelation  of 
the  Saviour ; but  this  would  not  have  been  according  to  the 
economy  of  his  providence.  No — Obookiah,  must  traverse 
the  ocean,  and  come  within  the  sound  of  the  gospel,  in  order 
to  be  made  a vessel  of  mercy  prepared  unto  glory.  And  to 
say  the  least,  what  evidence  have  we  that  any  of  the  heathen, 
have  been  converted  and  saved  without  the  gospel  ? But  ad- 
mitting that  there  may  have  been  individual  cases,  we  cannot 
rationally  suppose  that  they  have  been  very  numerous. 

If  the  gospel  is  not,  in  all  ordinary  cases,  necessary  to  the 


15 


salvation  of  the  heathen,  why  were  the  Apostles  commissioned 
to  preach  to  them  the  gospel  ? The  heathen  of  that  day  need- 
ed not  the  gospel,  any  more  than  those  of  the  present  day. 
Why,  then,  did  the  Apostle  Paul,  perform  so  many  tedious 
journies,  encounter  so  many  perils,  and  endure  so  many  hard- 
ships, to  preach  Christ  among  the  Gentiles.  If  they  might  be 
saved  as  well  without,  as  with  the  gospel ; why  all  this  waste 
of  time  and  labour  ? 

Besides — What  was  the  object,  for  which  Paul  was  commis- 
sioned to  preach  to  the  Gentiles?  It  was  to  open  their  eyes, 
and  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  tow- 
er of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  might  receive  forgive- 
ness OF  SINS,  and  inheritance  among  them  that  are 
sanctified.  This  commission  implied  that  the  Gentiles  were 
under  the  dominion  of  Satan,  and  stood  in  need  of  forgiveness — 
And  that  they  must  be  evangelized,  in  order  to  receive  for- 
giveness, and  an  inheritance  in  heaven. 

And  further — What  was  the  tenor  of  the  Apostle’s  preach- 
ing to  them  ? Did  he  take  it  for  granted  that  any  of  them 
were  interested  in  the  favour  of  God  ? On  the  contrary,  did 
he  not  invariably  address  them  as  sinners  justly  condemned, 
and  inculcate  repentance  and  faith  as  the  only  conditions  of 
pardon.  And  in  his  epistles  to  the  Gentile  churches  ; in  what 
one  instance,  does  he  intimate  that  any  of  the  members  of  those 
churches  were  in  a state  of  justification  previous  to  their  conver- 
sion to  the  Christian  faith  ? How  often  indeed  does  he  inti- 
mate the  contrary. 

Again.  If  the  gospel  is  not,  in  all  ordinary  cases,  necessa- 
ary  to  salvation,  why  was  that  grand  commission  given  to  the 
Apostles?  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel 
to  every  creature.  He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized,  shall 
be  saved,  and  he  that  believeth  not,  shall  be  damned.  Does 
not  this  imply,  that  the  gospel  is  the  great  instrument  which 
God  employs  for  the  salvation  of  men  ; and  that  those  who  are 
not  favored  with  the  gospel,  in  all  ordinary  cases,  at  least, 


14 


remain  under  condemnation  ? Agreeably  to  that  divine  dec- 
laration, ivhere  there  is  no  vision , the  people  perish. 

REMARKS. 

1.  This  subject  reminds  us,  how  highly  we  are  exalted, 
above  a great  part  of  our  fellow  men.  Upon  us  the  light  of 
revelation  has  shone,  while  a large  portion  of  our  race,  are 
groping  in  pagan  darkness.  While  they  have  never  heard  of 
the  Saviour,  and  never  seen  the  Bible,  and  are  trained  up,  in 
all  the  ignorance,  superstition  and  cruelty  of  pagan  idolatry  ; 
it  has  fallen  to  our  lot  to  be  born  and  educated  in  a Christian 
land.  We  hear  the  joyful  sound.  To  us  the  gospel  with  all 
its  glad  tidings  is  proclaimed.  And  why  is  it  that  we  are  thus 
distinguished  ? It  is  not,  because  we  are  better  than  others  ; 
but  it  is  owing  entirely  to  the  distinguishing  mercy  of  our  Cre- 
ator. How  great  then  the  weight  of  responsibility  which  rests 
upon  us.  Of  those  to  whom  much  is  given  much  will  be  re- 
quired. 

2.  How  aggravated  will  be  the  condemnation  of  those  who 
perish  from  under  the  light  of  the  gospel.  If  even  the  heathen, 
with  that  glimmering  of  light  which  is  furnished  by  the  light  of 
nature,  are  without  excuse ; how  great  must  be  the  condem- 
nation of  those  who  enjoy  the  gospel  and  abuse  it.  While  the 
former  will  be  beaten  with  comparatively  few  srtipes  ; the  latter 
will  be  beaten  with  many  stripes.  The  heathen  will  not  be  cal- 
led to  answer  for  rejecting  Christ,  and  despising  the  blood 
bought  salvation  ; and  if  even  they  die  without  mercy,  of  how 
much  sorer  punishment  shall  those  he  thought  worthy  who 
have  trodden  under  foot  the  Son  of  God?  Of  all  sinners  who 
dwell  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  there  are  none  who  will  exper- 
ience such  a fearful  doom,  as  those  who  shall  perish  from  under 
the  light  of  the  gospel.  It  will  be  more  tolerable  for  Tyre  and 
Sidon,  and  for  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  than  for  them.  Far  bet- 
ter, not  to  have  known  the  way  of  righteousness,  than  after  we 
have  known  it,  to  turn  from  the  holy  commandment  delivered 


15 


unto  us.  Far  better,  to  be  brought  up  in  all  the  ignorance  of 
paganism,  than  to  go  clown  to  perdition,  after  having  abused 
such  privileges  as  we  enjoy. 

3.  This  subject  teaches  us  very  strikingly,  the  duty  ol  send- 
ing the  gospel  to  the  heathen.  If  the  gospel  is  a blessing  of 
such  infinite  value,  as  has  been  shown  ; how  can  those  who 
enjoy  it,  answer  it  to  their  consciences,  or  to  God,  if  they  refuse 
to  do  all  in  their  power,  to  disseminate  it  through  the  world  ? 
It  is  estimated  that  there  are  at  this  moment,  not  less  than 
000,000,000  of  our  race,  sitting  in  darkness  and  in  the  re- 
gion and  shadow  of  death.  All  these,  my  brethren,  are  im- 
mortal beings,  like  ourselves.  They  are  descended  from  the 
same  progenitors — are  polluted  with  the  same  depravity, — 
and  are  hastening  to  the  same  eternity.  Each  of  them  has  a 
soul  infinitely  more  valuable  than  ten  thousand  worlds.  And 
how  are  they  to  be  saved  ? To  whom  shall  they  look  for  mer- 
cy, but  to  a crucified  Saviour?  But  how  shall  they  call  on 
him  in  whom  they  have  not  believed  ? And  how  shall  they 
believe  in  him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard 1 And  how  shall 
they  hear  without  a preacher  7 It  is  amazing,  that  the  Chris- 
tian world  have  so  long  slumbered  over  the  state  of  the  heathen. 
Eighteen  hundred  years  have  elapsed,  since  our  Lord  gave  the 
command,  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature.  Since  this  command  was  given,  sixty  genera- 
tions of  the  heathen  have  gone  down  to  the  grave,  and  even 
now,  but  a small  part  of  the  world  is  evangelized.  Do  you 
ask,  why  this  has  been  permitted  in  the  Providence  of  God  ? 
The  question  admits  of  the  same  answer  with  numberless  oth- 
ers. You  might  ask,  why  God  permits  dtousands  who  hear  the 
gospel,  to  reject  it  and  perish?  You  might  indeed  ask,  why 
God  permits  sin  and  misery  to  exist  at  all  ? And  the  true  an- 
swer to  all  questions  of  this  sort,  is,  Even  so  Father,  for  so  it 
hath  seemed  good  in  thy  sight.  But  if  you  inquire  for  the 
criminal  cause,  why  the  heathen  have  not  been  evangelized, 
it  will  be  found  in  the  apathy  and  inexcusable  neglect  of  those 


16 


who  enjoy  the  gospel.  The  apostles  did  what  they  could,  to 
publish  the  gospel  to  every  creature  ; and  had  those  who  came 
after  them,  prosecuted  the  object  with  the  same  diligence  and 
zeal,  the  world  would  long  since  have  been  evangelized.  To 
the  shame  of  the  Christian  world,  whole  centuries  have  elapsed 
while  this  great  object  has  been  forgotten.  But  blessed  be  God, 
a new  era  has  commenced.  The  Christian  world  are  waking 
from  the  sleep  of  ages,  and  are  beginning  to  exhibit  some  of 
that  spirit  which  characterized  the  apostolic  age.  They  are 
beginning  to  feel  a deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  those  who 
are  perishing  for  lack  of  vision  ; and  to  make  efforts  for  their 
salvation.  Missionary  Societies  have  been  established  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe  ; and  not  a few  have  offered  themselves 
to  the  Missionary  service,  and  have  bidden  farewell  to  their 
country  and  kindred,  that  they  might  preach  Christ,  where  he 
has  not  been  named.  Numbers  more,  are  ready  to  go,  so  soon 
as  adequate  means  shall  be  obtained  for  their  support.  How 
shall  they  preach  except  they  he  sent  ? Who  shall  transport 
them  to  the  distant  heathen,  and  support  them  there,  if  those 
who  enjoy  the  gospel,  and  who  are  blest  with  abundance  of  this 
world’s  goods,  refuse  their  aid  ? 

Now,  my  hearers,  are  you  all  disposed  to  enlist  in  the  cause 
of  missions,  and  to  lend  your  aid  to  the  mighty  work  of  evan- 
gelizing the  world  ? 

That  tills  is  a cause  which  God  approves,  I have  no  doubt. 
Nor  have  I any  doubt,  that  it  must  eventually  commend  itself, 
not  only  to  every  disciple  of  Christ,  but  to  every  friend  of  hu- 
manity. What  is  the  great  object  of  the  missionary  enterprize? 
It  is  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the  human  family — to  dis- 
pel the  darkness  which  covers  the  earth,  and  the  gross  dark- 
ness which  covers  the  people — to  rescue  from  ignorance,  su- 
perstition, and  vice,  the  degraded  pagans,  and  to  extend  to 
all  men  the  blessings  of  civilization,  and  the  richer  blessings 
of  the  Christian  religion. 

Who  can  be  the  enemy  of  such  an  enterprize  ? Is  he  a 


17 


Christian  ? A Christian  opposed  to  the  spread  of  that  gospel 
which  he  presses  to  his  bosom  as  his  choisest  treasure  ; and 
which  contains  the  charter  of  all  his  hopes  ! A Christian,  op- 
posed to  the  spread  of  that  gospel  which  his  Lord  and  master 
came  down  from  heaven  to  teach,  and  which  he  commanded 
his  disciples  to  publish  to  all  nations  ! — that  gospel  which 
brings  life  and  immortality  to  light,  and  which  points  a fallen 
race  to  the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketli  away  the  sin  of  the  world  ! 
A Christian, — one  who  has  imbibed  the  spirit  of  his  di- 
vine master,  who  has  been  taught  to  love  his  neighbor  as  him- 
self, and  to  pray  for  the  universal  reign  of  righteousness  and 
peace,  opposed  to  the  extension  of  Christ’s  kingdom  on  the 
earth ! There  cannot  be  a greater  paradox  than  this. 

Is  he  a philanthropist  ? Let  him  look  over  the  heathen  and 
Mahometan  world,  and  survey  those  dark  places  of  the  earth 
which  are  full  of  the  habitations  of  cruelty.  Let  him  contem- 
plate the  degradation,  pollution,  and  wretchedness  of  pagan 
nations  ; and  then  turn  his  eye  to  those  more  favored  portions 
of  the  globe,  upon  which  the  light  of  revelation  has  shone. 
Let  him  contrast  our  present  condition  with  that  of  our  pa- 
gan ancestors,  and  contemplate  the  happy  changes,  which  the 
gospel  has  never  failed  to  produce,  where  it  has  been  dissem- 
inated in  its  purity.  Let  him  ask  himself,  what  nation  since 
the  Christian  era,  has  emerged  from  a state  of  barbarism  with- 
out the  gospel ; and  into  what  barbarous  nation  it  has  penetra- 
ted, where  it  has  not  carried  with  it  all  the  blessings  of  civili- 
zation— Where  it  has  not  struck  up  the  light  of  science — in- 
troduced the  useful  arts — elevated  the  character  of  the  female 
sex — tempered  the  spirit  of  the  government — mitigated  the 
horrors  of  war — ameliorated  the  condition  of  the  poor,  and 
spread  a benign  influence  over  the  whole  face  of  society.  And 
can  he  be  a philanthropist,  who  is  opposed  to  the  spread  of 
that  gospel,  which  never  fails  to  carry  with  it  such  a train  of 
blessings  ? 


2 


18 


But  1 rejoice  that  the  open  enemies  of  this  cause,  are  fast 
retiring  from  the  field.  And  well  they  may  retire,  for  it  is  too 
late  in  the  day,  to  oppose  the  cause  of  missions  with  any  hope 
of  success.  God  has  purposed,  that  the  world  shall  be  evan- 
gelized, and  if  the  voice  of  prophecy  and  Providence  be  not 
entirely  misunderstood,  the  time  has  come,  when  this  purpose 
is  about  to  be  executed.  A mighty  impulse  has  been  given 
to  the  church,  and  a series  of  efforts  has  commenced,  which 
we  hail  as  the  sure  harbingers  of  a brighter  day  than  has  yet 
shone  upon  the  world.  The  king  of  Zion  is  marshalling  his 
hosts,  and  leading  them  from  conquering  to  conquer.  The 
heathen  may  rage , and  the  people  imagine  a vain  thing : — the 
kings  of  the  earth  may  set  themselves,  and  the  rulers  take  coun- 
sel together  against  the  Lord  and  against  his  anointed — Infi- 
dels may  scoff  and  oppose,  but  all  their  efforts  to  arrest  the 
progress  of  the  gospel,  are  like  the  puny  efforts  of  an  insect,  to 
stop  the  planets  in  their  course.  They  might  as  well  under- 
take to  dam  all  the  rivers  in  the  world,  and  dry  up  the  ocean ; 
as  to  stop  those  streams  of  charity  which  are  making  glad  the 
city  of  our  God. 

It  is  interesting  to  Look  back  and  trace  the  events  of  the  last 
thirty  years,  and  then  to  look  into  the  book  of  God,  and  sur- 
vey the  opening  prospects  of  Zion.  The  church,  hitherto 
small  and  despised,  is  not  destined  to  live  always  in  such  ob- 
scurity. This  world  was  made  for  Christ,  and  it  shall  one  day 
become  the  habitation  of  his  church.  The  promise  is  sure, 
that  he  shall  have  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance,  and  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  possession.  The  little  stone 
cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands,  shall  become  a great 
mountain  and  fill  the  whole  earth.  The  kingdom  and  the 
dominion  and  the  greatness  of  the  kingdom  under  the  whole 
heaven,  shall  be  given  to  the  people  of  the  saints  of  the  Most 
High.  And  we  believe  diat  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when 
these  things  shall  be  realized.  Already  we  see  indications  too 
plain  to  be  misunderstood,  that  the  redemption  of  Zion  draweth 


19 


nigh.  We  live  in  an  eventful  day.  Many  prophets  and  righ- 
teous men  have  desired  to  see  the  tilings  which  we  see,  and 
have  not  seen  them,  and  to  hear  the  things  which  we  hear,  and 
have  not  heard  them.  The  events  of  the  last  thirty  years, 
have  so  far  surpassed  our  expectations,  that  we  dare  not  con- 
jecture what  thirty  years  more  may  bring  to  pass. 

But  while  we  rejoice  in  what  has  been  achieved,  let  us  not 
forget  that  we  are  engaged  in  a stupendous  enterprize,  and 
that  the  work  is  but  just  begun.  Three  quarters  of  our  globe 
are  still  covered  with  pagan  and  Mahometan  darkness ; and 
of  the  other  quarter,  more  than  one  half  is  still  under  the  do- 
minion of  the  man  of  sin.  And  even  in  Protestant  Christendom, 
how  small  a portion  of  die  people  are  imbued  with  the  spirit  of 
die  gospel.  The  true  church  is  still  but  a little  band,  few  in 
numbers,  and  feeble  in  strength  ; and  what  can  she  do  towards 
conquering  die  world  ? — a world  long  held  under  die  dominion 
of  die  prince  of  darkness — a dominion  which  he  will  not  re- 
linquish widiout  an  obstinate  and  formidable  struggle.  When 
we  contemplate  the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking,  and  the 
weakness  of  the  instruments  by  which  it  is  to  be  achieved  ; if 
we  looked  no  farther,  our  hearts  would  fail,  and  we  should  sit 
down  in  despair.  But  our  confidence  is  not  placed  on  human 
efforts.  There  is  an  invisible  hand  concerned  in  diis  enter- 
prize ; and  while  human  instrumentality  is  not  to  be  dispensed 
with,  the  excellency  of  the  power  is  not  of  men,  but  of  God. 
We  can  employ  means : we  can  disseminate  the  scriptures, 
and  send  forth  die  heralds  of  salvation.  And  these  means 
simple  and  powerless  as  they  are  in  themselves,  are  mighty 
dirough  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  the  strong  holds  of  Satan. 
God  can  bless  the  means  of  his  own  appointment.  He  can 
clothe  his  word  with  divine  energy,  and  make  it  the  power  of 
God  unto  salvation.  Yes,  my  brethren,  God  can  convert  the 
world.  He  can  bind  the  prince  of  darkness,  and  confine  him 
to  the  prison  of  hell,  that  he  shall  deceive  the  world  no  longer. 


20 


He  can  bring  the  nations  to  bow  to  the  sceptre  of  his  son. 
He  can  cause  the  Jew  to  embrace  that  Saviour  whom  his 
fathers  crucified,  and  whom  he  has  been  taught  from  his  child- 
hood to  revile  and  blaspheme.  He  can  bring  the  pagan  to 
cast  his  idols  to  the  moles  and  to  the  bats,  and  to  sit  down  at 
Immanuel’s  feet.  He  can  bring  the  Mahometan  to  forsake 
his  Koran,  and  renounce  his  prophet,  and  to  embrace  a religion 
which  breathes  not  blood  and  carnage,  but  peace  and  good 
will  to  men.  He  can  purge  away  the  corruptions  of  Christen- 
dom, repair  the  waste  places  of  Zion,  and  bring  the  thousands 
who  hear  the  gospel  and  reject  it,  to  fall  down  and  sue  for 
mercy.  He  can  renovate  this  sin  polluted  and  sin  destroyed 
world,  and  fill  it  with  his  praise.  And  because  he  has  prom- 
ised to  do  it,  we  believe  he  will. 

We  need  not  therefore,  be  appalled  at  the  magnitude  of 
our  undertaking,  nor  shrink  from  the  work  under  a sense  of 
our  impotence.  Let  us  set  our  hope  in  God,  and  rely  on 
him  to  bless  our  feeble  efforts,  and  rejoice  that  we  may  be  al- 
lowed the  privilege,  and  the  honor,  of  being  co-workers  with 
him  in  the  great  work  of  evangelizing  the  world.  And  who 
of  us  is  not  emulous  to  have  a part  in  this  noble  enterprize  ? 
Who  of  us  can  wish  to  stand  idle  in  such  a day  as  this,  and 
look  with  cold  indifference  on  the  perishing  millions  of  our 
race  ? Do  we,  my  hearers,  esteem  the  gospel  a blessing,  or 
do  we  consider  it  a curse  ? Should  we  be  willing  to  exchange 
places  with  the  heathen,  or  to  be  set  back  to  that  state  of  dark- 
ness, in  which  the  gospel  found  our  ancestors  ? If  so,  let  us 
burn  our  Bibles  and  demolish  our  sanctuaries.  Let  us  send 
into  exile  the  ministers  of  religion,  and  abolish  our  schools. 
Let  us  sweep  away  those  Christian  institutions  in  which  our 
fathers  gloried,  and  which  they  deemed  the  richest  legacy 
which  they  could  leave  to  their  children.  Let  us  set  our  car- 
penters, and  our  masons,  and  our  smiths  to  work,  to  make  us 
gods  of  wood,  and  of  stone,  and  of  iron.  Let  us  fall  down  be- 


21 


fore  our  senseless  idols,  and  cause  our  children  to  pass  through 
the  fire  unto  Moloch.  Let  us  erect  our  swinging  posts,  and 
our  funeral  piles,  and  burn  our  widows  with  the  dead  bodies  of 
their  husbands.  Let  us  degrade  the  female  sex  to  the  con- 
dition of  slaves,  and  wallow  in  all  the  pollutions  of  the  heathen 
world. 

But  if  we  are  not  willing  to  return  to  this  state  of  barbarism 
— if  we  prize  the  gospel  as  an  invaluable  blessing,  let  us  think 
of  those  who  have  it  not ; and  remember  the  words  of  the 
Lord  Jesus, — Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  unto 
you,  do  ye  even  the  same  to  them. 

And  while  we  weep  over  a world  lying  in  wickedness,  and 
do  all  in  our  power  to  ameliorate  their  condition  ; let  us  rejoice 
in  the  opening  prospects  of  Zion.  When  I look  through  the 
glass  of  prophecy,  and  down  the  vale  of  time,  I see  the  church 
coming  up  from  the  wilderness  leaning  on  her  beloved.  I see 
the  kingdoms  of  this  world  becoming  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord 
and  of  his  Christ.  I see  Satan’s  kingdom  falling  as  lightning 
from  heaven,  and  the  church  all  glorious,  rising  on  its  ruins ; 
looking  forth  as  the  morning,  fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the 
sun,  beautiful  as  Tirzah,  comely  as  Jerusalem,  and  terrible  as 
an  army  with  banners. 

Yes,  and  without  the  prophetic  glass,  I think  I see  the  king 
of  Zion,  coming  to  take  possession  of  the  earth.  I see  the 
ilses  waiting  for  his  law',  and  Ethiopia  even  now  stretching  out 
her  hands  unto  God.  I see  the  man  of  sin  fast  passing  to 
perdition,  and  the  false  prophet  following  after,  and  the  altars 
of  paganism  crumbling  to  ruins.  I see  an  angel  flying  through 
the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach 
to  all  nations,  and  kindred,  and  people,  and  tongues.  And  I 
hear  songs  of  salvation  rising  from  the  plains  of  Hindoston, 
and  echoing  from  the  isles  of  the  Pacific. 

Yes,  my  hearers,  the  darkest  period  of  the  church  is  past. 
The  millenial  day  begins  to  dawn  upon  the  world.  Already 


22 


streaks  of  light  begin  to  guild  the  eastern  horison  ; and  though 
neither  we  nor  our  children  may  live  to  see  it,  our  children’s 
children  may,  perhaps,  see  the  sun  of  righteousness  rise,  in  full 
orbed  splendour  upon  the  world. 


f 


